Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06MINSK223
2006-03-02 12:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAQ CANDIDATE BEATEN AND
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 MINSK 000223
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAQ CANDIDATE BEATEN AND
DETAINED
7. (C) Accodding to BelaPAN reported Maryna Rakhlei (who did
not witness these events herself),around no^n several of
Kozulin's supporters were reportedly in a vehicle near the
police station. A journalist took a number of photos of the
situation, then got in the car. Security forces approached
and demanded the camera. The car started to drive away and
the security forces fired two@shots, one through the
windshield and one int^ the tire. Rakhlei said the car made
it around the corner where all hhe occupants jumped out@and
escaped, except for the journalist who waf detained. Rakhlei
believed no one was shot. Julia Slutskaya, editod in chief
for KomsomoXskaya Pravda, told Post one of her journalistsQ
had been seriously beahen, and is now in detenhion at the
Leninskaya police station. She said that, despite rumors ho
the contrary, her journalist had not been shot. At least two
other journalists that have been beaten are believed to be at
the Leninskaya police station.
8. (C) Around 1200 an ambulance arrived at the police
station. At 1300 a doctor came out of the building and told
reporters, "There is nothing to worry about." He would not
say anything more other than confirming he came to check
Kozulin.
9. (C) At 1400 independent newspaper BDG's web site reported
Kozulin was being charged with starting a fight. Around this
time Pol Chief spoke with Nikolay Lozovik, deputy head of the
Central Election Commission, who claimed there was a conflict
which security forces dealt with. He added that Kozulin
enjoys no immunity from prosecution. (Lozovik also said that
Milinkevich's planned public rally on March 2 is illegal and,
consequently, the CEC has every right to disqualify him as a
candidate.) Kozulin's campaign manager Grib 2eleased a
public statement calling for authorities to ralease Kozulin
and for prosecutors to file criminal charges against these
responsible for beating him. Milinkevich issued a public
statement expressing solidarity with Kozulin.
10. (C) Conclusions: Sources claim around 60 people are
detained. A number of them have been beaten. No one has had
contact with Kozulin since his detention. ODIHR defies
rumors that any of its long term observers have been
detained. Most independent news web sites are off the air
and most of Post's contacts' cell phones are no longer
functioning. Post will continue to follow and report.
11. (C) Comment: In his televised campaign speech on Fe`ruary
22, Kozulin openly attacked Lukashenko, including accusing
Lukashenko of involvement in the 1999 and 2000 disappearances
and of fathering a child by his mistress. Lukashenko has not
been this baldly criticized in Belarus in years, if ever.
Kozulin also was determined to force his access to the All
Belarusian Congress, and he told visiting EUR DAS Kramer on
February 24 that (e was prepared to go to jail, but that a
non-#onventional approach to campaigning was needed.
Unfortunately, Kozulin seems to be paying the price for his
boldness.
Krol
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2016
TAGS: PGOV PHUM BO
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAQ CANDIDATE BEATEN AND
DETAINED
7. (C) Accodding to BelaPAN reported Maryna Rakhlei (who did
not witness these events herself),around no^n several of
Kozulin's supporters were reportedly in a vehicle near the
police station. A journalist took a number of photos of the
situation, then got in the car. Security forces approached
and demanded the camera. The car started to drive away and
the security forces fired two@shots, one through the
windshield and one int^ the tire. Rakhlei said the car made
it around the corner where all hhe occupants jumped out@and
escaped, except for the journalist who waf detained. Rakhlei
believed no one was shot. Julia Slutskaya, editod in chief
for KomsomoXskaya Pravda, told Post one of her journalistsQ
had been seriously beahen, and is now in detenhion at the
Leninskaya police station. She said that, despite rumors ho
the contrary, her journalist had not been shot. At least two
other journalists that have been beaten are believed to be at
the Leninskaya police station.
8. (C) Around 1200 an ambulance arrived at the police
station. At 1300 a doctor came out of the building and told
reporters, "There is nothing to worry about." He would not
say anything more other than confirming he came to check
Kozulin.
9. (C) At 1400 independent newspaper BDG's web site reported
Kozulin was being charged with starting a fight. Around this
time Pol Chief spoke with Nikolay Lozovik, deputy head of the
Central Election Commission, who claimed there was a conflict
which security forces dealt with. He added that Kozulin
enjoys no immunity from prosecution. (Lozovik also said that
Milinkevich's planned public rally on March 2 is illegal and,
consequently, the CEC has every right to disqualify him as a
candidate.) Kozulin's campaign manager Grib 2eleased a
public statement calling for authorities to ralease Kozulin
and for prosecutors to file criminal charges against these
responsible for beating him. Milinkevich issued a public
statement expressing solidarity with Kozulin.
10. (C) Conclusions: Sources claim around 60 people are
detained. A number of them have been beaten. No one has had
contact with Kozulin since his detention. ODIHR defies
rumors that any of its long term observers have been
detained. Most independent news web sites are off the air
and most of Post's contacts' cell phones are no longer
functioning. Post will continue to follow and report.
11. (C) Comment: In his televised campaign speech on Fe`ruary
22, Kozulin openly attacked Lukashenko, including accusing
Lukashenko of involvement in the 1999 and 2000 disappearances
and of fathering a child by his mistress. Lukashenko has not
been this baldly criticized in Belarus in years, if ever.
Kozulin also was determined to force his access to the All
Belarusian Congress, and he told visiting EUR DAS Kramer on
February 24 that (e was prepared to go to jail, but that a
non-#onventional approach to campaigning was needed.
Unfortunately, Kozulin seems to be paying the price for his
boldness.
Krol